GENEVA -- The GAVI Alliance today announced it will provide funding for 16 more developing countries to introduce rotavirus vaccines and 18 more countries to introduce pneumococcal vaccines -- a major step towards protecting children against severe diarrhoea and pneumonia -- the two leading child killers.

The roll out of rotavirus vaccines across the African continent has already begun in Sudan, and today’s announcement confirms funding for 12 more African countries to follow suit.